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DURHAM | Duke University has a big presence in Durham. It’s the city’s largest employer and even if you don’t know anything about Durham, like me before I visited, you’ve probably heard of Duke. Unsurprisingly, a visit to the campus is a must when in town. Here’s a few of the top things to do when you visit.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
One of my favourite things to do at the Duke campus is to walk through the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The gardens are a memorial to Sarah Pearson Angier Duke, mother of Mary Duke Biddle and wife of Benjamin N. Duke, one of Duke University’s benefactors. The gardens are laid out across 55 acres (22 ha) with are 5 miles (8 km) of allées, walks, and pathways. They are considered one of the finest public gardens in the United States.
Entry to the gardens is free, and they’re open 365 days a year, from 8:00am to dusk.
Duke Chapel
Standing at 210 feet in the centre of campus, Duke Chapel is one of the largest college chapels in the world. It was, despite being planned first, the last of the original campus buildings to be built. The architectural style of the Chapel is English Gothic, but it is modelled upon no particular cathedral, college chapel, or parish church. It’s a stunning building that’s open to all, regardless of faith.
Duke Basketball Museum & Sports Hall of Fame
5 times national champions Duke are one of the most successful college basketball teams in the country, and seeing a game is an experience that’s totally worth doing if you can score a ticket. If you can’t, and even if you’re not a huge basketball fan, do visit the Duke Basketball Museum & Sports Hall of Fame.
The museum is located adjacent to the Cameron Indoor Stadium and teaches visitors all about the history and importance of the basketball team and Duke University’s wider athletic achievements. The museum features memorabilia, visual and audio exhibits, and trophies of national championships.
The museum is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm weekdays, with weekend hours around home football and basketball games. Entry is free.
Nasher Museum of Art
The Nasher Museum of Art is Duke University’s art museum. The collection contains more than 13,000 works of art, including works by well known and lesser known artists from around the world. The museum is dedicated to presenting contemporary art from around the world, with particular attention given to those who have been historically underrepresented.
The museum is particularly notable for its strong collection of Pre-Columbian art (3,300 objects), with particularly significant holdings of Mayan ceramics and Peruvian textiles. It’s open every day of the week except Mondays, and has an entry fee of $7.00 for adults, and varying concession discounts.
Duke University
Durham
North Carolina 27708
United States
Telephone: 919 684 8111
E-mail: n/a
Website